Andersen and Marner lead Leafs to much need win
Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Earning a victory at home after the worst performance of your season can do a world of good to boost your confidence, just ask Frederik Andersen.
The Toronto Maple Leafs goalie has come under fire recently for some poor performances, culminating in the 7-3 drubbing by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
After admitting that most of his recent struggles have been mental, settling into a new location, a new team and recovering from an injury in particular, Andersen had arguably his best performance in a Maple Leafs jersey and helped the team secure a 3-2 regulation victory over the visiting Florida Panthers.
Andersen saved 29 of the 31 shots he faced from a Panthers offence led by Jonathan Marchessault, who scored both the Panthers' goals, and had a .935 save percentage on the night.
Andersen's performance against the Panthers was highlighted by this excellent save against former Leafs player Greg McKegg on a breakaway.
The more assured performance from Andersen will have been a delight for fans who began to doubt him, particularly with him under contract for 5 years at $5 million per.
But Andersen was not the only star of the night.
Another player who had arguably his best performance in a Leafs jersey was Mitch Marner, who had a hand in all three of the Leafs' goals.
Marner entered the season with questions surrounding him.
Many wondered if the Leafs would keep him around for a full season or if he would find himself back in London with the Knights.
But this question should no longer be in the mind of Leafs fans, with Marner often looking like the best player on the ice.
3 assists in this game gives Marner 6 points (1G, 5A) in his first 7 NHL games, with Babcock previously being quoted as saying this about the 19-year-old Ontario native:
"He’s outstanding. Has the puck all the time. He’s great defensively. He’s a great player."
There should now be no doubt in the minds of Leafs fans about Marner's chances with the team this season.
He is playing on the team's 2nd line, alongside James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak, and he is performing well each game.
Marner's determination to fight for the puck helped keep the Leafs in the Panthers' offensive zone when the team was 1-0 down, leading to Marner passing to Nikita Zaitsev before the Russian defenceman's shot deflected off Bozak for a bizzare-looking goal.
Marner's offensive awareness and keen hockey sense has seen him become a key part to Babcock's team.
As evidenced by the video below, Marner has the vision to pick out key passes that can lead to goals for the Leafs, something the team will need as the season progresses.
Marner may not get a point every game but what he does get are opportunities, and plenty of them.
This game against the Panthers highlighted the abilities and potential of both Andersen and Marner and should be seen as a bright spark to cling on to when things may not be going the right way.
At any moment, Marner can produce a pass or attacking movement that gives the Leafs a real chance of scoring and could be the difference in many games going forward.
He may not receive the attention that Auston Matthews gets, but Marner is certainly proving to be just as important to the team.
As for Andersen, he is a good goalie that has struggled with confidence and poor performances recently but has two home victories under his belt and should grow as the season progresses.
If the Leafs can get more performances such as this from Andersen, the team will pick up plenty more wins this season and will begin to take the right steps forward in their planned rebuild.
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